The following is a contributed article from Kelly Detzel, reminding you patience is a virtue. Continue to wait on God's best. 

Please. Another wedding invitation? Gag
me. Another Facebook status announcing her engagement? Lady, stop tooting your own horn. I mean, it isn’t that big a deal. Everyone and I mean everyone and her best friend was either married or already had an engagement ring on that pretty little finger of hers. Except me.  And I know what you’re thinking. Please girl, shut up and stop while you’re ahead. Not another single me, single you sob story. Go away. I am perfectly fine with eating my feelings and drowning in Netflix episodes. Hold on, okay? Pull up a chair and stay a while.

Anyway, it was 2012, May 5th to be exact when a message buzzed on my phone.

“I’M ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It read in all caps.

I knew. I knew it was coming before she even sent the text. And I won’t lie. I was still a discontented single pringle of a gal who didn’t have a clue. There she was sitting in a South Carolina restaurant with the love of her life without a care in the world. I should have been happy for her. And sure, I was happy for her. Of course I was. Happy as I text back “Congrats.” while sitting with my best friend in her living room trying to push back the tears. Happy as I scrolled through her engagement ring pics on Facebook trying to push back frustration. Happy as I tried desperately punching that green eyed monster sucker smack dab in the face. Envy-10 points, Kelly-0.

But being happy and being genuinely joyful for someone are two different things completely. Because it was her time for love. It was her time to be joined together with the one God chose for her before she was even born. Who was I to be jealous just because she got to walk down the aisle before I did?

Selfish girl bitter attitude. Single girl lonely girl. Angry girl who desperately needed a heart and soul check. The grass is always greener on the other side. Isn’t that how life just seems to go sometimes? I’d be happier, more content if I just had. . . I’d be on fire for God, believe you me if I just attained. Lord, you know this is what I need. It’s the best thing for me really. Or is it?

Clenched fist, tears in my eyes. Stones in my pocket when God longed to give me gems. My whole life ahead of me and I was stuck in a standstill. “God’s forgotten about you.” Satan whispered. “He’s withholding what you want most because He doesn’t love you.”

And at the time, I believed those lies. Swallowed them hook line and sinker Maybe I had been wrong. Perhaps I had been deceived all along. I wasn’t getting what I thought I needed when I needed it. So I selfishly blamed God for a season. It was his fault for making me wait. It was his fault I was alone. Or was it?

Twenty three and clueless. I was nowhere near even close to being ready. Cooking? Forget about it. Household skills? Don’t make me laugh. See, what we fail to remember is that God is the orchestrator of all things in His timing alone. He’s not going to just hand over what we want or think we need just because we pout and scream and cry.  If it isn’t your time to fulfill your calling, be it a nurse or teacher or doctor it’s not going to happen. Period.

Dreams put on hold for a season aren’t necessarily meant to die.I wanted to become a writer.  Man oh man did I want to write. Ladies I waited over three and a half years and God finally answered that prayer this past Friday. Three and a half years of tears and doubt and wailing and petitions out to God. See, it wasn’t that God was saying no, He was saying “My ways are not your ways; my thoughts are not your thoughts. You need to wait. You need to trust. Even if I say no.”

Do you know how long Sarah and Abraham desired and waited for a son? Can you imagine the countless tears that were shed during the wait? Twenty five years of waiting. Twenty five years of prayers and cries out to Jehovah.

But God in his perfect timing does finally answer. Genesis 21:2-3 reads “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.”
And then God throws a curveball.

Genesis 22:2 reads: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

It gets me every single time I read this account. How much do you love me Abraham?
Hey, how much do you love me, Kelly? How much? Are you, are we willing to give up what we treasure and or desire the most and put it on the altar as a sacrifice to God?

Genesis 22:10 reads: “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”

His precious son, his only son which he had prayed for so long. The point is he loved God more. He had faith that God would intervene right on time. He trusted and God answered.  May I encourage you tonight to follow hard after God and allow Him to become your first love? Don’t be afraid to trust God, even if He says no. Don’t be afraid to trust God even when He says yes! It’s finally time!
He knows best.

 About the Author: Kelly has been a writer since the age of twelve, and is on a mission to reach souls for Jesus through the art of written word. A blogger since 2011, she adores charming her readers with a unique outlook on anything and everything from works of pure fiction to simple truths of Jesus Christ, life, and love.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Looking at the generation that’s coming up, I see young women giving

themselves (physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually) just to feel love.

I see young women trying to fit in with what the crowd is doing, not understand that you are to be pursued, not understanding their true worth. True love (unconditional love) is found only in Jesus Christ. I have been there and I’m still learning.

I have been the lonely woman trying to find love in all the wrong places. Trying to find a man to validate me not realizing that Jesus Christ validated me when he died for my sins. I've been the woman who gave myself (physically) to find love when in reality it left me empty. That moment of pleasure left me with a lot of hurt, consequences, and disgust.

We have to be careful to not give ourselves away to everyone we come in contact with. Sex is one of the most overrated things that is place in front of our faces everywhere. We can’t escape sex. God gives everyone the desire to have sex but he wants it under the covenant of marriage between man and woman. The reason why sex can be dangerous if not done in marriage, is because when you have sex, you release a hormone called oxytocin (a bonding hormone) which connects you intimately with the person you have sex with. This is how people who are having premarital sex can’t seem to let people go that they know are not supposed to be with.

I’m here to encourage you to seek God, give him your entire heart, your life and watch him move in a mighty way. Also surround yourself with people who are living for God, join ministries that are honoring Christ. Beautiful, you are loved, you are a daughter of the most high, you are a gem and when you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, He looks at you as if you never sinned. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I hope this has blesses someone as much as it has blessed me writing it.~Latisha

Here’s a list of ministries to get involved in on your journey with Christ:

Pinky Promise: www.pinkypromisemovement.com (Thousands of groups worldwide)

Saved in the City (Can be found on Instagram)
Life Groups in Huntsville, Atlanta, Nashville, and Washington D.C.

Dear gracious, intelligent, and beautiful sisters,

Maybe you're 21, 25, 18 or even the same as I, 27.You could even be older but the most important thing is, you're humble, hardworking, focused on Christ but there are a couple of things you wish would filter out of the minds of those that are close to you: Your future. More specifically, your future in dating or marriage.

Its the holiday season and I know once returning home from school or work family members and old friends place the spotlight on you at the dinner table asking-Are you dating? When are marrying? What happened to so & so? You two were so cute? If you're like me, you'll push all of these questions to the side and simply say you're waiting on God's timing. Afterall, you're leaning not on your understanding of the season of singleness you're in, but his. His timing is perfect!

I hope this letter isn't dragging but I simply want to remind you that the season you're in is a setup for a greater season ahead. To some of you it may seem like a season of loneliness but how can it be lonely when you have your heavenly father to to hold on to. I'm always reading quotes and I came across one of which that said, "Dance with God and he'll let the right man cut in." Very true in the sense that God won't send anyone worthy your way, until you're ready. My sisters just as you're preparing yourself for a deserving man, he's preparing himself for you. Both of you are praying, preparing, and running closer to God and I can assure you, only good will come from your faithfulness in Christ. Now, if you're a young lady that's reading this and wondering what should you be doing in this season, I would advise you to refocus all your attention on Christ.Focusing on being the right woman. There are many women that that constantly say, "Men are no good!" "The good ones are taken." when they should be asking themselves "Am I a good woman?" "Am I worthy?"

In your season of singleness, while growing in faith be a blessing to other women: volunteer, serve, mentor. Share the wisdom you've gained. As I mentioned before in my blog, the Proverbs 31 women of today are the Titus 2 women of tomorrow. Live it. Teach it. to instill better qualities in the generations to come. For a closer look at the Titus 2 woman, read the post "The Forgotten Woman of Titus 2."

Flee temptation. Yes, we've all sinned and come short but its not too late to continue your journey on the narrow path. I would encourage you during this time to remain in celibacy or purity. No matter what you've been told, God's word always prevails and sex is safer and better in marriage.

Also, one of the things that I encourage all single young women in Christ to do is write a letter to your future husband. I've done this myself last year. This letter is kept in my bible in the pages of Proverbs. It entails my hopes, dreams, and thoughts of him. One day you'll be able to let the man God has for you read those letters you wrote to him, long before you even knew he existed.

One more thing ladies, never neglect the wisdom of those older than you. Yes, those older ladies in the church that you think you nothing in common with. You have plenty in common with them. I, myself, love talking to older women. Maybe that's why I don't completely act my age. But seriously, listen to them, They've lived what you're living and want nothing but the best for you.

As, I close this letter, I want you to remember there's a purpose in your season. Be thankful for that purpose and be wise in your season, making sound decisions based on God's word only. Remember patience is a virtue. Never settle for situationships, only a godly relationship. Yes, I know there may be some around you that are in a different chapter than you. But you can't base your chapter off their chapter. Stop comparing. Stop dating randoms and start living for God. I know this may be hard for some of you but God is always there to guide you with his unchanging hand of love. He's your true first love. The man, he has for you is only borrowing you for a moment on this earth. Continue to be blessed in your season, preparing for the season that's greater than what you could imagine.


Blessings,
     Danielle